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THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 



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No 3€>e> 



Occasional Publications Volume I 
The New London County Historical Society 



THE STONE RECORDS 
OF GROTON 

BY 

FRANCES MANWARING CAULKINS 



EDITED BY 



EMILY S. GILMAN 



NORWICH, CONNECTICUT 

THE FREE ACADEMY PRESS 

MDCCCCIII 



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THE LIBRARY OF ' 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Received 

iUN 29 1903 

Eynght Entry 
t xXa No 

[ COPY A. 



Copyright, 1903, by the 
New London County Historical Society 



PREFACE 

THE New London County Historical Society 
has among its possessions many manu- 
scripts of the late Miss Frances Manwaring 
Caulkins, whose labors as local historian and 
indefatigable worker in the field of local antiquities 
have secured for her deserved recognition. Miss 
Caulkins is best known by her Histories of New 
London and of Norwich, to which she devoted 
years of earnest labor. 

Among the most interesting of the unpublished 
manuscripts is that entitled by her "Stone Records of 
Groton." Instead of following the form adopted for 
the recently published Diary of Joshua Hempstead, 
the Historical Society decided to initiate a new form, 
which it hopes to follow in future occasional 
publications, and which has the advantage of lending 
itself readily to illustration and artistic embellishment. 
The success which attended the publication, a year 
ago, of the Journal of Madam Knight induced the 
society to entrust the preparation of this initial 
volume of its occasional publications to the Norwich 
Free Academy Press, and the present volume is the 
result. 

The editorial charge, as will be seen, has been 

7 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

undertaken by Miss Emily S. Oilman, and the 
illustrations are the work of Miss Lucy Greenman 
of the Norwich Art School. Mr. Ozias Dodge and 
Miss Morse of the Art School, Mr. Cranston of 
the Manual Training department of the Academy, 
Mr. Beebe of the Academy Printing Office, Mr. 
Adams of the Academy Book-bindery have all 
contributed to make the book what it is. Every 
particle of work upon the volume, with the exception 
of the mechanical reproduction of the illustrations, 
has been done, upon Academy ground, by those 
connected with the Free Academy. The tomb- 
stone inscriptions have been very carefully revised 
after repeated visits to the various burying grounds, 
and the punctuation, spelling, and use of capitals will 
be found to conform strictly to the originals. 
The credit of this revision is due to Mr. Cranston 
and Mr. Beebe. It should be understood that the 
stones which have been selected for reproduction 
are those which best illustrate the stone-cutter's art 
of the period. 

The volume illustrates that varied activity in many 
directions which is believed to be characteristic of 
the Norwich Free Academy ; it also illustrates the 
united effort of the sister cities of New London 
and Norwich. 

Robert Porter Keep 
Norwich, June 1903 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

Preface 7 

Introduction ii 

Mason's Expedition 17 

Arnold's Expedition 27 

The Battle Monument 58 

The Ledyard Monument 61 

Gravestone Inscriptions 64 

Appendix 87 

Letter from Ebenezer Ledyard 

" " Colonel William Ledyard 

List of Authorities 
List and location of Burial-grounds 
Revised lists of men engaged in Battle of Fort Grisvvold 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Facing Page 

Map of Mason's Route 17 

Reprinted from "History of the Pequot War", edited 
by Charles Orr 

Sketch of New London and Groton 27 

From Faden collection, reprinted from Charles Allyn's 
"Battle of Groton Heights" 

Stone of Ebenezer Avery ^6 

" " Capt. John Williams 60 

" " Thomas Chester 64 

" " Nicholas Starr 68 

" " Elnathan Perkins 72 

" " Belton Allyn 76 

" " Capt. Elijah Avery 80 

" " Jonathan Fox 84 



IN'J RODUCTION 

DIRECTLY opposite New London, on 
the eastern side of the Thames, is 
Groton Height, on which are situated 
Fort Griswold and the Monument, commem- 
orative of a dark scene in the history ot the 
place. 

Groton received its name from the first 
Governor Winthrop of Connecticut (John 
Winthrop the Younger), who, having a large 
tract of land in this portion of the new world, 
stamped upon it the name of his birth-place 
in England. It was a part of New London 
until 1705, and until 1836 included within 
its bounds the present town of Ledyard, at first 
called North Groton. The area of the town 
is still large, comprising several fiourishing 
villages, and though surpassed in wealth, 
population and resources, by some of its 
neighbors, in respect to venerated names and 
those historical facts and exploits that make a 
place eminent through all time, it yields the 

I I 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

palm to no town in the State. Two tragedies 
ot surpassing interest are recorded in its annals. 

This region had become famous before it 
had been named, or its surface explored, by the 
English. Here were the principal fortresses 
and villages of the Pequot tribe of Indians ; 
here flourished Sassacus their renowned leader, 
whose foes trembled when they named him. 
The fierce Mohawks feared and revspected 
the terrible Sachem and the powerful Narra- 
gansetts said of him "He all one god; no man 
can kill him." 

It is strange that a tribe so considerable, 
occupying these fertile hills and pleasant shores, 
should have left so few traces of themselves to 
be gathered from history, legend, relics, or 
structures. Groton was the scene of the hrst 
important conflict with the Indians in all New 
England : a conflict which resulted in the 
extinction of the tribe, who left their name 
and history to the mercy of their enemies, 
without any record of their own, or any vestige 
of the past to testify even to their existence as 
an independent tribe. 

A new race took possession of the conquered 
domain and it became an English settlement. 
In a short time farm-houses and orchards ap- 

I 2 



INTRODUCTION 

peared and groups of sheep, cattle and horses, 
before unknown to the country, gave a cheerful 
aspect to the rugged pastures and bleak hills. 
Yet little more than a century passed before the 
same desirable land was the scene ot one ot the 
most sanguinary conflicts of the revolutionary 
war, 

A granite column standing on the height 
commemorates this awlul tragedy. It was 
quarried out of the neighboring cliff's, planted 
by the side of the old fortress and dedicated to 
its sacred office in 1830. 

The prospect from the summit of the mon- 
ument extends north to the Mohegan hills 
where Uncas had his watch-tower; to the 
South the view extends over a wide stretch of 
the Sound, and is diversified with islands, 
promontories, light-houses and passing sails, 
and bounded by a long waving shadow, which 
marks the coast of Long Island, while to the 
west and directly at one's feet is the river 
Thames and New London on the further bank 
with its spires and masts, its neat gray fortress 
and its well-delined harbor 

Turning to the East, the eye rests upon a 
long ridge of cultivated land, on the summit 
of which stood the royal fortress of the Pequots 

13 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

where Sassacus held his barbarous court. Be- 
yond this, live or six miles distant, on a high 
bank overlooking Mystic river, stood the second 
still more reno\^ ned fort ol the same tribe, 
which was taken and destroyed by Capt, Mason 
and his company from the new settlements on 
the Connecticut river in 1637. This was that 
first great conflict between the races in New 
England, to which allusion has been made. 
Yet it was rather a inassacre than a battle. 

The English soldiers were guided to the 
fort by Wequash, a Pequot, who had previously 
deserted his countrymen and sought the 
friendship of the invaders. For this service 
he was praised and rewarded by our people, 
but his tribe regarded him as a traitor. The 
works were taken by surprise; quarter was 
denied to the wretched inmates; they were 
met at lirst with a volley of musketry and then 
with sword and bayonet. Flaming brands 
from their own hearth-stones were applied to 
their huts, and by lire, sword and musketry 
the work of destruction was completed. 
Many of those who attempted to escape from 
the flames were caught upon the bayonet and 
slain or thrust back into the Are. 

What reader of history can stand upon this 

14 



INTRODUCTION 



spot without connecting and comparing in 
his mind the events of May 26th, 1637, with 
those of September 6th, 1781 ? The latter 
conflict seems but a repetition, after a long 
interval, of the old tragedy of the wilderness. 

In the following pages will be found a more 
expanded account of the two battles that give 
such prominence to the History of Groton. 



15 



MASON'S EXPEDITION 

SASSACUS was the superior chief, or 
Sachem, of the Pequots, twenty-six 
subordinate captains acknowledging his 
authority. The English colonists took no 
precautionary steps to conciliate his friendship 
or secure his neutrality, and even in several 
instances tavored his enemies and prejudiced 
his claims. As a natural consequence he was 
hostile to their settlements and committed 
various overt acts of enmity and aggression, 
which called down their vengeance. 

Two special acts of hostility were charged 
upon the Pequots. First, that in 1634, they, 
or some tribe in alliance with them, for whom 
they were held responsible, had attacked a 
pinnace, or trading vessel in the Connecticut 
river, killed the whole crew, eight in number 
— two ot whom were Captains Stone and 
Norton, well-known coasting traders — and 
had plundered and burnt the vessel. Second- 
ly, that in 1635, Mr. John Oldham of 

17 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

Plymouth, while trading in his pinnace at 
Block Island, had been killed by Indians who 
fled to the Pequots for refuge, and these were 
therefore considered as abettors of the murder. 

For the chastisement of these atrocities, an 
expedition was fitted out from Massachusetts 
Bay, consisting of about ninety men (four 
companies of twenty men each, all volunteers), 
under the general command of John Endicott, 
Esq. They were authorized to put to death 
the men of Block Island and to bring away the 
women and children : — to demand ot the 
Pequots the murderers of Capt. Stone and 
other Englishmen, and in case of refusal to 
obtain their demands by force. 

This squadron landed on Block Island the 
last day of August 1636. The inhabitants 
fled and concealed themselves in thickets and 
the troops spent two days in searching tor 
them without success. They plundered the 
villages, burnt wigwams, mats, corn and canoes, 
and, according to Underbill, who commanded 
one of the four companies, killed fourteen 
Indians and "maimed others." 

After recruiting a few days at Saybrook 
fort, the expedition came into Pequot river 
and anchored in what is now New London 

18 



MxA.SON S EXPEDITION 



Harbor, where they spent the night. The 
next day, probably September 6th, after a vain 
attempt on the part of the Pequots to obtain 
terms and conckide a treaty of peace, the troops 
hmded on the east side, cHmbed up the rocky 
banks to Groton Heights, and as the Indians 
fled before them **thev marched up to their 
town and burnt all their wigwams and mats, but 
their corn being standing they could not spoil 
it." The next day they committed the same 
havoc on the west side ot the river (New 
London), burning the huts and spoiling the 
canoes, and departed, leaving the tribe in a 
state of great exasperation. 

The Pequots now dismissed all thoughts of 
peace and submission. The utter extinction 
ot the English settlements became their 
controlling object and they pursued the work 
with savage desperation. They lay in ambush 
around Saybrook fort, watched and guarded 
Connecticut river, infested the land routes and 
stood ready to leap on every white person that 
could be found unprotected. At Saybrook 
and at Wethersfield men were put to death by 
torture and the insulting barbarians boasted 
that they could kill ECnglishmen "all one flies". 

On the first day of May 1637, deputies from 

19 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

the three English towns on the river, Windsor, 
Hartford and Wethersheld, met in Cieneral 
Court at Hartford and decided on an offensive 
war against the Pequots. They ordered nine- 
ty men to be levied for the expedition. The 
command was given to Captain John Mason : 
Robert Seely was his lieutenant and in case ot 
his death was to be his successor. Mr. Stone 
of Hartford was selected for the chaplain. 

This company embarked at Hartford, May 
loth, in three vessels, — a pink, a pinnace and 
a shallop. The Mohegan chief Uncas, ^^'ith 
sixty or seventy men, went by land, to join 
the party at Saybrook. Uncas had been a trib- 
utary chief to Sassacus but, having revolted and 
been driven from his seat upon the Pequot 
river, he had retired with most of his tribe to a 
tract of land claimed by him on the east side 
x)f Connecticut river, and had entered into 
alliance with the English. 

Captain Mason's little fleet was live days in 
getting down the river and was wind-bound 
several days at Saybrook. Here twenty of his 
men were dismissed, their place being supplied 
with the same number from Saybrook fort, 
under Capt. Underbill. Here they were also 
joined by Uncas and his men. The whole 

20 



MASON S EXPEDITION 



force set sail on Friday, May 1 9th, arriving 
at Narragansett on Saturday evening but, the 
wind being adverse and blowing violently, a 
landing was not effected until Tuesday. They 
had sailed directly past the Pequot bounds with 
the design of landing beyond and marching 
back through the wilderness to attack them 
by surprise in the rear. 

This plan was accomplished. They spent 
one night with Miantonomoh the Narragansett 
sachem, and Wednesday, May 24th, began their 
westward march, seventy-seven Englishmen, 
sixty Mohegan and River Indians, and a throng 
of about two hundred Narragansetts. They 
marched twenty miles the first day and en- 
camped for the night wdth the Nianticks. 
The next day the Indian auxiliaries were in- 
creased to the number of five hundred, — the 
whole making a formidable army. But for 
the most part it was a transitory force, unstable 
as water. Nearly half the Indians deserted 
that night. The next day after marching 
fifteen miles, they reached Mystic river, which 
they crossed at a fording place near its head 
and encamped under the shadow^ ol a high 
ridge, since called Porter's Rocks. This was 
about two miles distant from the Indian fort- 



21 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

ress that they designed to attack. The senti- 
nels posted in advance upon the hills heard 
the festal shouts and songs of the savages, till 
midnight. 

The troops were aroused two hours before 
day and summoned to prayer, after which 
they marched directly to the doomed fort, 
which stood on a rugged height of ground. 
Wequash, a revolted Pequot, was their guide. 
"This fort, or palisado, was well nigh an 
acre of ground, which was surrounded with 
trees and half-trees, set into the ground three 
feet deep, and fastened close one to another. 
The space therein is full of wigwams, 
wherein their wives and children live with 
them." 

The fort had two entrances, or narrow doors, 
closed with boughs and bushes and the invaders 
advanced towards each, in two bands, led by 
Captains Mason and Underbill. The moon 
shone, but they approached in profound stillness 
and were not discovered till Mason was within 
a rod of the w est entrance, when a dog barked 
and an Indian sentinel suddenly cried out 
"Owannox ! Owannox!" i.e. Englishmen! 

Captain Mason drew up his men and fired 
a volley through the palisades. The entrance 

22 



MASON S EXPEDITION 

was blocked up with bushes breast-high, but 
he leaped over, commanding his men to follow 
and Lieutenant Seely, hastily removing the 
bushes, entered with sixteen men. No Indians 
were to be seen till Mason, sword in hand, en- 
tered a wigwam where he found himself in 
the midst of a squad of warriors, by whom 
he was attacked, but he defended himself 
manfully and slew one. William Hayden then 
came to his assistance and the Indians tied or 
crept under mats and skins to hide themselves. 
Within the palisade were about ninety huts 
separated by lanes or streets. Mason with a 
few of his companions rushed down one of these 
streets, driving a throng of terrified Indians 
before him, who at the end of the street were 
met by the English who had entered at the 
other gate with Captain Underbill. Leaving 
the fugitives to the swords of his second party, 
the Captain turned and retraced his steps to 
the west side where he had entered the fort. 
The wigwams swarmed with Indians, but they 
knew not what to do. Captain Mason had 
previously designed not to burn the fort, but 
to slay the warriors and carry away the 
plunder. Suddenly he exclaimed, "We must 
burn them," and entering the wigwam he had 

23 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

lirst visited and cleared ot its inmates he 
brought out a blazing brand and applied it to 
the dry matting that covered it. The tiames 
caught and spread rapidly, extending from root 
to root and sweeping into the cabins where the 
bewildered savages, men, women and children 
had huddled together in their fear. They 
were speedily driven out by the smoke and 
flames and, the English being on watch guard- 
ing the doors and pathways, a terrible slaughter 
ensued. Captain Underbill had set lire to the 
other side of the fort with a train of powder 
and, the flames meeting in the center, the whole 
was consumed in the space ol halt an hour. 

Some of the more nimble warriors attempting 
to escape over the palisades were shot dead ; 
or, if they cleared the fence, were slain by the 
Indian auxiliaries, who were stationed in a 
circle outside the fort. A band of about forty 
came forth furiously in close order, with 
brandished tomahawks to hght their way 
through, but were nearly all slain. '*Many," 
says Capt. Underbill, *'were burnt in the fort 
both men, women and children. Others 
forced their way out and came in troops, twenty 
and thirty at a time, which our soldiers 
received and entertained with the point of 

24 



MASON S EXPEDITION 

the sword." 

The women and children for the most part 
perished in the wigwams : any who endeav- 
ored to escape were driven back to the flames 
by the soldiers. The English could not 
encumber themselves with prisoners and, un- 
willing to leave their work incomplete, gave 
free course to vengeance. 

Of the whole number in the fort only seven 
captives were taken and it was supposed that 
about the same number escaped. It was 
variously estimated that from three hundred 
to seven hundred Indians were slain. Two 
Englishmen were killed and twenty wounded. 
The conquering party marched to Pequot 
Harbor, where they met their vessels and 
returned to Hartford which they reached in 
about three weeks from the time of their 
departure. 



25 






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ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION 



DURING the war of the revolution, the 
harbor of New London was a noted 
rendezvous for the armed vessels ot 
the American States. Here they were often 
htted and recruited for service. The privateer- 
ing business was also prosecuted by the 
adventurous merchants and seamen of New 
London with great vigor and success. Situa- 
ted near the entrance into Long Island Sound, 
this harbor opens its inviting arms to welcome 
the victor returning with his spoils, or to 
receive the flying fugitive and protect him 
from further pursuit. As a place convenient 
for slipping out to sea, it possesses also great 
advantages. In these respects New London 
was particularly serviceable to the country 
during the war and therefore became obnox- 
ious to the British officers, by whom it was 
denounced and marked for chastisement at the 
lirst convenient opportunity. 

In the meantime the cruisers or privateering 

27 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

vessels ol the port increased Irom year to year 
and with them the energy and business of the 
place. In 1779 and 1780, success attended 
alinost every cruise that was undertaken and 
the favor of fortune continued into the summer 
of 1 78 I, when the climax was reached by the 
capture ot a rich merchant ship called the 
Hannah. This was a vessel from London 
laden with costly merchandize tor New^ York 
traders and with private supplies tor the 
British officers quartered in that city. She 
had neared the Southern coast of Long Island 
and was almost at the end of her voyage, 
when the privateer Minerva, Captain Dudley 
Saltonstall, came athwart her course and greet- 
ing her wdth a rough salute, shot down her 
flag, then running along side and boarding 
her, at once obtained possession and brought 
her safely into port. 

This was a distinguished prize. It was 
probably the most valuable single seizure 
made on the hig-h seas durino^ the war. The 
cargo consisted of an assortment of choice 
goods adapted to the New York market. It 
was regarded as a token of good fortune to 
New London, but in reality it sealed her doom 
and made her destruction sure. The capture 

28 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

of this vessel, just as her arrival was eagerly 
anticipated and the supplies she bore were 
most urgently required, was the one drop too 
much that made the town's offences to run 
over and exasperated the British into immedi- 
ate reprisal. 

A fitting instrument for the vengeance ot 
the enemy was at hand. Benedict Arnold 
had deserted the American cause the preceding 
year (in Sept. 1780) and had been received 
into the British service with the rank ot 
Brigadier General. Since that time he had 
conducted, a predatory expedition against 
Richmond and other portions of the Virginian 
coast, plundering, burning and destroying the 
public stores, mills and shipping in his course. 
He was now opportunely in New York, 
unemployed ; nor could any other person have 
been found in the whole range of British 
choice, — among the regular troops, the hired 
Hessians or the American royalists — so well 
prepared as General Arnold to conduct the 
expedition and perform the service to which 
he was forthwith appointed. 

He was a native of New London County 
and almost as familiar with the town itself as 
an inhabitant. He knew all its streets and 

29 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

lanes, its shops and ware-houses, and the 
names and faces ot its most prominent citizens. 
He had often sailed from the port, and was 
conversant with every turn of the coast, like 
one of its own pilots. He knew all the 
contiguous country, the streams, the highlands 
and winding roads, and was therefore able to 
estimate before hand the facilities for ensuring 
success, or the obstacles that might be encoun- 
tered in the undertaking. In addition to 
these advantages he w^as supposed to be in 
secret correspondence with certain personal 
friends in the town of tory propensities, who 
covertly favored the enemy and served him 
as spies and informers. 

This was at a critical point of the American 
conflict. General Washington and his Gallic 
allies were advancing upon Yorktown. The 
British and French fleets under Admiral Graves 
and the Count de Grasse were each maneuvering 
to obtain command of Chesapeake Bay. 
In New York Sir Henry Clinton was sending 
reinforcements to the South, equipping pri- 
vateers and particularly earnest in furnishing 
Arnold with everything necessary for the 
vengeful attack upon New London, which 
was expected to be a short, spirited and decisive 

30 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

expedition and one of the most brilliant 
episodes ot the war. 

The preparations were made with great 
secrecy. The fleet set sail and swept along 
the coast of Long Island almost unnoticed 
from the opposite shore. The inhabitants ot 
the doomed town had not heard that the 
thunderbolt was forging when the cloud broke 
over them; except that at nightfall, September 
5th, a rumor came floating by that a fleet ot 
British transports had been seen advancing 
through the Sound, and that they were even 
then lurking under the shadow of Long Lsland, 
opposite the harbor of New London. But 
the people had been long accustomed to 
threatening reports and talse alarms and gave 
little heed to the intellio^ence. The inhabi- 
tants, one and all, oflicers in charge and 
householders with their families, passed the 
night in their usual repose. With the flrst 
dawning light, the fleet was discovered 
approaching the Connecticut shore, but even 
then it was generally supposed to be a prowling 
expedition, sent out to scour the coast for stock 
and other provisions ; such as had often 
disturbed the surface of the Sound and devas- 
tated its borders. It was near sunrise before 

31 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

the alarm guns sounded and couriers Hying 
through the town aroused the inhabitants to a 
sense ot iminediate danger. Hundreds rushed 
to the hill-tops and found the tidings in their 
fullest extent verified. The British vessels lay 
at the mouth of the river and troops were 
landing both on the New London and Groton 
side. 

And now the alarm spread in every direction; 
tumultuous cries resounded through the streets. 
"The Regulars are coming ! The Regulars are 
coming ! They have landed and are marching 
over Town Hill ! The tort is taken ! The Red 
Coats are on us ! Fly ! Fly !" 

Dire confusion followed. In some cases 
stupid amazement and in others uncontrollable 
excitement prevailed. The whole town was 
a scene ot fiight, tear, bewilderment and 
wailing lamentation. The inhabitants desert- 
ed their houses with the few valuables they 
could seize and fled with precipitation to the 
fields, thickets and farm houses of the vicinity. 
A few ventured to stay long enough to bury 
in their gardens or to deposit in wells articles 
of value. 

Arnold, with a force of 800 men under his 
immediate command, landed about two miles 

32 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

from the town a little to the west of the 
present light house. The only obstructions to 
his route were an insignificant redoubt upon 
Town Hill and Fort Trumbull, then a clumsy 
and incomplete work, on a point projecting 
into the river. Both were untenable in case 
of a land attack and made no defense, but 
were abandoned at the approach ot the 
enemy. Captain Adam Shapley was in com- 
mand at Fort Trumbull, with a garrison of 
twenty-five men. He had orders from Colonel 
Ledyard, in case of attack to spike the guns and 
retreat across the river. This he aimed to 
accomplish, but the enemy coming down w ith 
a rush compelled the garrison to take to their 
boats in haste, and a piece of cannon that had 
been left unspiked was turned against them. 
One of the boats was struck and disabled and 
two of the men wounded, obliging the party 
to return and surrender. The other boats 
crossed in safety and the men joined the 
garrison at Fort Griswold. 

Arnold and his party, meeting with no check, 
marched rapidly forward and, before the sun 
reached the meridian were in full possession 
of the deserted town, and had encircled it on 
the land side with a chain of guards and scouts. 

33 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

The work ot destruction then commenced. 
The shipping was the prime object of attack. 
Strenuous exertions had been made to remove a 
part ol it, and several vessels actually escaped 
up the river, through the favor of an opportune 
breeze, but all that could be reached were set 
on hre. The Hannah, in particular, Iving at 
Shaw's wharf not yet more than half relieved of 
her rich cargo, was kindled in various places and 
the lire cherished, till swinging free from her 
fastenings she drifted over to Winthrop'sNeck 
a moving pinnacle of flame. Boats, scows, 
wharves were all destroyed. Flames were also 
applied to the shops, stores, w^are-houses and 
all places ot business ; to the Jail where tories 
had been so often lodged, to the custom-house, 
court-house, printing office and to all dwelling 
houses of those citizens who were most prom- 
inent as friends ol American independence. 
Other private buildings do not appear to have 
been purposely molested, but from these centres 
the tiames were carried by the wind in various 
directions, involving whole streets in the 
conflagration. In this way, the Episcopal 
church on the Parade was ignited and entirely 
consumed. A part of the soldiery likewise, reck- 
less of orders, lighted their flres indiscriminately 

34 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 



and apparently with as much glee as a bonlire 
is kindled on a festal day. The red glare, the 
circling clouds ot smoke and the flying brands 
and cinders, now red and now black, were 
viewed with horror by the dispersed inhabitants, 
who were gathered as spectators on the distant 
heights. When the flames subsided, the 
greater part of the town was covered with 
smouldering ruins and forlorn ash heaps. The 
number ot buildings burnt was 14^. 

Another tragedy was simultaneously enacted 
on the Groton side of the river. Fort Griswold 
was situated upon high ground directly opposite 
New London, the river between being about 
half a mile wide. It was the design of General 
Arnold that this post should be lirst secured 
that he might efi-ect his designs upon New 
London with more security, and that the guns 
of the fort might be used to prevent the escape 
of the shipping up the river. The force detailed 
tor the purpose landed earlier than that destined 
for the west side, and it was confidently expected 
by Arnold that the two forts w^ould be taken 
at nearly the same time and with equal ease. 
But the roughness of the country on the 
Groton side, consisting in part of tangled swamps 
and uncleared woods, impeded the advance of 

35 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

the troops and forced them to leave their artil- 
lery behind. The fort had been garrisoned 
with stout hearts and able hands, gathered in 
part from the neighborhood, and, by offering 
a formidable resistance where none was ex- 
pected, surprised and exasperated the enemy. 

The walls of the fort were of stone, topped 
with earth and defended by a strong fraising 
of cedar pickets projecting outward. Above 
this was a high breast-work with embrasures 
for cannon. In form it was nearly square, 
with bastions or flanks at the angles and sur- 
rounded by a trench live feet deep. The 
ordinary garrison consisted of less than thirty 
men, drafted at intervals from the militia but 
on this eventful morning volunteers from the 
neighborhood, roused by thunder of alarm, 
came forward in sufficient numbers to man 
the walls with a respectable force. Captain 
Shapley also joined them with sixteen men 
from Fort Trumbull. The whole number 
is variously stated from i 20 to 1 60. 

Colonel William Ledyard was the military 
commander of New London district which 
included the two forts. He had visited the 
west side of the river that morning and, 
convinced that resistance there would be use- 

36 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

less, gave orders to Captain Shapley to evacu- 
ate his post on the approach of the enemy. 
Returning to Fort Griswold, he called a 
council of his officers and with their concurrence 
and advice resolved to defend his position. 
Volunteers had already arrived and he trusted 
that the military bands of the country 
further back would assemble in time to make 
a diversion in his favor and compel the invaders 
to retire. In this expectation he was disap- 
pointed. The time was too short for such 
action. Before the militia could collect in 
sufficient strength to justify an attack upon the 
enemy, the fatal blow had been struck and 
Groton Height was crimsoned with the blood 
of her sons. 

The invading force consisted of two 
regiments of regular troops, the 45th and 50th 
led by Majors Montgomery and Bromlield, 
and a corps ol New Jersey loyalists provided 
with a train of artillery, — the whole under 
the command of Lieutenant Colonel Eyre. 
The artillery companies encountered so many 
obstructions in dragging their pieces over 
ledges and through swamps, that the regular 
troops advanced without them, and the Jersey 
men with their ordnance arrived at the scene 

37 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

too late to be of service. To the British 
troops alone the awful excesses of the day- 
must be charged. 

When about half a mile from the fort, the 
enemy halted under the shelter of a woodland 
knoll, while Captain Beckwith, one of the New 
Jersey officers that acted as aid to Colonel 
Eyre, was sent forward with a flag, demanding 
the surrender of the fort ; which, says Arnold 
in his report of the action, was ''peremptorily 
refused". The English commander, having 
received this prompt reply, sent back the mes- 
senger to repeat the summons, with the savage 
threat added that if compelled to storm the 
fort martial law would be enforced. This 
was understood to signify that no quarter 
would be granted, — but the brave response 
was the same — "the fort will be defended to 
the last extremity". 

Captain Beckwith, receiving this answer, 
hastily turned away, waving his flag as a signal, 
and the enemy instantly began to move forward 
in close array to the attack. When they came 
within reach of the cannon of the tort, they 
were saluted with a well-aimed discharge which 
caused their ranks to waver for a moment. 
But they returned to the charge in open order, 

38 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

trailing their arms and advancing with great 
speed, spreading their ranks as they approached 
so as to threaten the fort on three sides. They 
were met with a steady discharge of musketry, 
the garrison firing over the parapet, with 
dehberate aim and fatal accuracy. But the 
enemy pressed forward, concentrating their 
fury upon the southwest bastion, which they 
attempted to carry by sudden storm, and they 
would doubtless have effected their purpose had 
not a determined group of lion-hearted men, 
Shapley, Chapman and others, gathering at 
that point met and repulsed them. They drew 
back carrying their commander. Colonel Eyre, 
mortally wounded, with them. The Americans 
gave a triumphant shout, that resounded far 
and wide. 

In the meantime an equally bold assault 
had been made by Major Montgomery on the 
northeast side of the fort. His men rushed 
into the trench, making bridges and ladders 
of their bodies for one another, some lifting 
others upon their shoulders, and, while attempt- 
ing to scale the wall and force out the pickets, 
receiving undismayed the shower of missiles 
hurled upon them from above. Clubs, cannon- 
balls, sods of earth, were thrown down upon 

39 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

them by the garrison but they never wavered. 
When one man fell another leaped into his 
place : when a few with great difficulty had 
forced out the pickets and obtained a lodg- 
ment upon the wall, they pulled up others and 
a squad being gathered they rushed forward, 
and by a desperate hand to hand combat 
obtained possession of a piece of ordnance 
that enfiladed a side of the fort. This they 
immediately turned against the garrison and 
swept down several men with it. And now 
a strong party pressing forward with lixed 
bayonets into the embrasures, were met by 
the garrison with long spears. Major Mont- 
gomery, one of the first to enter, fell dead, 
transfixed upon the point of a spear. Another 
officer, supposed to have been Ensign Whit- 
lock of the 40th, was also killed and fell back 
into the trench. Nevertheless, others pressed 
forward and raising the war cry, ''Vengeance ! 
Vengeance for the death of Montgomery !" 
drove the garrison furiously before them and 
rushed into the area of the fort, where they 
cut down the guard that defended the gate 
and threw it open to their comrades. The 
troops from without poured in and, crossing 
the parade, unbolted the south gate to the 

40 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

force on that side, no opposition being made. 

By the death of Montgomery the command 
of the British devolved on Major Bromfield, 
who seems to have determined on fully carry- 
ing out the fierce threat of his predecessors. 
When the embrasures were first entered by 
the enemy, Colonel Ledyard gave orders for 
resistance to cease. The fighting after this 
was only a desperate effort of self-defence 
against butchery. 

The gates were thrown open and the enemy 
marched in, rank after rank, while the 
garrison, huddling together in groups, awaited 
their doom. The Colonel stood near the 
centre of the parade, with a few of his ofiicers 
and personal friends around him. Then 
above all the tumult was heard the voice of the 
British Commander, "Who commands this 
fort?" Colonel Ledyard, advancing toward 
him and bowing, replied in a firm tone, '*I did. 
Sir ; but you do now," and presented his sword 
in token of submission ; the barbarous officer, 
grasping the weapon, plunged it into the bosom 
of its owner, who staggered and fell. 

It has been reported that before committing 
this savage act, the fierce Briton said to his 
victim, "You know the rules of war and what 

41 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

you have to expect," reminding him thus that 
the alternative had been offered him and he 
had dehberately chosen resistance and death. 
Yet the blackness of the deed is not relieved 
by its being performed in execution of a brutal 
threat. The amiable Ledyard, brave and 
generous as any of the boasted chivalry of 
England, lay slain ; not in fair fight, but a 
sacrifice to blood-thirsty vengeance. The 
friends that had stood near him leaped forward 
to avenge the blow, or to share his fate and 
fell, overpowered by numbers, but defending 
themselves to the last and selling their lives at 
a price. 

Slaughter and havoc now filled the fort. 
Three platoons in succession discharged their 
muskets upon the terrified garrison, who, 
crowded together on one side of the parade, 
threw down their arms and vainly cried, 
"C^iarter! Quarter!" Others of the soldiery 
fired into the barrack windows, upon those who 
had sought shelter there ; twice a file of the 
enemy discharged their guns at those who 
fled to the magazine for refuge, thoughtless 
of the ruinous explosion that might take place. 

The sword and bayonet were also at work. 
In vain did the bewildered garrison plead for 

42 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 



mercy, clasping their hands as suppliants, 
falling down on their knees and adjuring the 
conquerors as they hoped for Heaven to spare 
them. In vain they sought to escape butchery 
by feigning death, or by leaping from the 
walls. Everywhere they were beset and pursued 
with curses, knocked down with the butt end 
of muskets and trampled to death, or pierced 
with the bayonet. Amid the shrieks and groans 
of the victims, resounding shouts and cries 
were heard, **Cut down the Yankees! Kill 
the rebels ! No quarter!" accompanied with 
yells and fearful oaths. 

It was all the work of a few minutes; so 
great was the frenzy of the British soldiers 
that their officers sought to restrain them 
by threats and force. They ran to the 
front, caught hold of the infuriated men and 
with drawn swords ordered them back, 
exclaiming, "Blood enough! Blood enough! 
For heaven's sake, stop!" One of these officers 
threw himself between his men and their 
victims, crying in agony, **No more blood ! 
Spare them ! Spare them ! My soul cannot bear 
it!" Often in after days, was the hoarse cry 
and the thrilling expression of this English 
Captain — "my soul cannot bear it" recalled 

43 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

to mind and repeated by the few survivors of 
that terrible massacre. 

The excitement was at length calmed. 
Eighty-one of the garrison lay dead and more 
than half of the remainder were severely 
wounded. Scarcely one was left that had not 
received a heavy blow, a gun shot or a sabre 
cut. When the enemy had made good their 
lodgment upon the fort and Ledyard gave 
the orders for resistance to cease, only six men 
had been killed and eighteen or twenty slightly 
wounded, though not disabled from action. 

After the massacre, plunder followed. The 
dead were stripped nearly naked and thrown 
into a heap on one side ; the wounded were 
left without having their wounds dressed, or 
water furnished to quench their thirst. It 
was in truth all that the enemy could do, to 
take care of their own wounded men and 
convey them, with the plunder of the tort and 
the prisoners they had taken, to their vessels. 
They were forced to ply their work in hot 
haste, lest the alarined country should pour its 
enraged population upon them, before they 
could escape with their booty. They had at 
least a hundred wounded men, many of whom 
could not walk, to be transported singly on 

44 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

barrack doors and boards by carriers, four to a 
man, from the height on which the fort was 
situated, down a rugged precipitous descent, 
nearly half a mile to the water side. The 
fort was to be dismantled and the dead buried. 

Major Montgomery was interred opposite 
the northeast bastion of the fort, near the spot 
where he fell. Two other persons, probably 
officers, were laid in separate graves, but the 
remainder of their dead, about forty in number, 
were buried in several pits, which were dug 
outside of the walls in the open field. No 
stake or stone was left to point out any of 
these resting places of the dead, and the ground 
was smoothed over to obliterate the traces of 
interment. 

The prisoners that were able to walk were 
marched to the river, where the roll of their 
names was taken and they were sent with the 
plunder of the fort and village on board the 
English fleet, which was then lying in the 
harbor close at hand. On Groton Bank, the 
houses and stores of the Ledyards, of Thomas 
Mumford and others, the best in the village 
and belonging to persons most obnoxious to 
the British, were set on fire and the flames 
spread to several other dwellings. These were 

45 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

Still burning as the prisoners marched, or 
rather were driven, down to the water and, on 
the opposite side of the river, smoke and 
flames were rising from ship-hulks and smould- 
ering buildings. 

The fort, with its barracks for three hundred 
men and its magazine lately replenished with 
a supply of powder, the enemy could not take 
away. These must therefore be destroyed 
and before this could be done the wounded 
Americans must be removed. They had not 
time to convey the wounded prisoners down 
the hill singly and carefully, as they had their 
own disabled men. Another expedient was 
adopted. All that could not walk were laid, 
one upon another, in a large ammunition 
wagon, a piteous freight of sufferers, and a train 
of soldiers ordered to drag them down the hill. 
The road was nearly in its original condition, 
encumbered with rocks, tree-stumps and 
bushes, over which the cart went lumbering 
and pitching, till at length, in surmounting 
some obstruction, the weight pressing heavily 
upon the soldiers with a sudden impetus, they 
leaped aside and left the vehicle to its headlong 
course. Down it rushed, jolting over the 
stones and hollow places, till it struck against 

46 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

a trunk of an old tree and rebounded with 
such force as to throw out two or three of the 
wounded men and to cause intense agony to 
all. The cries of the sufferers were loud and 
heart rending, being distinctly heard, it is said, 
at New London on the opposite side of the 
river. The soldiers did what they could in this 
extremity. They conveyed the bleeding vic- 
tims to the nearest house, where they wxre 
left alone in their misery until found by their 
friends after the departure of the enemy. 

Night had now set in. Captain Lemoine 
of the Royal Artillery with his corps remained 
behind, charged by Arnold with the last duty, 
that of destroying the works. A tire was 
kindled on the floor of one of the barracks, 
and a train of powder laid to the magazine, 
just far enough from the lire, as was supposed, 
to allow a safe retreat. The Captain and his 
party then hastened down the hill to join their 
comrades, expecting to witness at a secure 
distance the tremendous uproar and destruction 
for which they had made preparation. Yet 
nothing came of it and, as several hours elapsed 
before all the troops from both sides of the 
river had embarked. Captain Lemoine was 
directed by the General to return to the fort 

47 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

and renew the experiment. This was not 
done. Why the order was not obeyed is not 
known. The general hazard involved in the 
performance probably excused the neglect. 
A British party, reascending the hill on that 
fatal night, would have been exposed to 
certain destruction from the groups of excited 
countrymen who were drawing near to the 
scene of desolation. 

But how was the well-laid train of the 
Royal Artillerists prevented from taking effect ? 
Even before the British left the fort men from 
the interior were gathering in the neighbor- 
hood, and here and there a straggler was 
creeping stealthily behind fences or hiding in 
the tree tops, watching for their departure. 
Among those who at the first alarm in the 
morning had hastened toward the scene of 
action, was Major Nathan Peters of Preston, 
a patriot soldier who had served in two 
campaigns of the war, and who now mounted 
his horse and rode fourteen miles to the spot, 
arriving in the neighborhood just as the 
British were preparing to leave the fort. 
Having disposed of his horse, he cautiously 
approached the walls in order to ascertain if 
possible the condition of affairs within. Two 

48 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 



or three other resokite persons appear to have 
been engaged in a similar manner, and the 
little party drew nearer and nearer to the fort 
and distinctly heard the enemy give their last 
orders and call in their guard. They listened 
to their retreating steps, heard the sound of 
their voices die away, till, being convinced by 
the perfect stillness that the fort was wholly 
deserted, they went forward and boldly entered 
the open gate. The fire and smoke from the 
barracks drew their attention and Major Peters 
instantly suspected that a train had been laid 
for an explosion. Not a moment was to be 
lost. He ran to the pump and seizing a 
cartridge box, the only vessel at hand that 
would hold water, filled it repeatedly and 
poured it upon the train of powder, which 
was found almost in proximity to the flames. 
By this prompt and energetic action of Major 
Peters and his companions, the train was 
intercepted and the fires extinguished. It was 
near midnight when this was accomplished. 
The officers of the British fleet plying out of 
the harbor often turned their eyes toward the 
Height, hoping yet to witness the explosion, 
and perplexed and mortified at the disappoint- 
ment they passed out of sight. 

49 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

To the inhabitants of Groton that night of 
uncertainty and suspense was followed by a 
gloomy dawn. Of the eighty-one that lay 
dead in the fort, pierced in some instances 
with twenty or even thirty wounds and so 
disfigured that their nearest friends found it 
difficult to recognize them, sixty were her sons. 
More than forty women were made widows 
in that forlorn night. 

In a house near the foot of the hill lay the 
wounded, stretched upon bare floors, exhausted 
with loss of blood and intolerable thirst. 
Agonizing groans resounded from room to 
room. It was near the break of day before a 
friendly step ventured to approach them or a 
kindly voice breathed a word of comfort in their 
ears. Then came wives, mothers, children, 
moving from one to another, scanning the 
features by the ghastly light of lanterns and 
calling out the names of husband, son or 
brother. Happily a few were there to answer 
and to be soothed and saved by ministering 
skill and the sweet offices of love and mercy. 
Two, alas! of the wretched company were 
found cold and silent, having died during the 
night. 

Within the enclosure of the Fort on that 

50 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 



dreadful day many painful scenes of recognition 
took place. The trembling hands of women 
washed the blood and grime from the faces 
of the dead and the features of the best beloved 
could not at first be recognized. 

Arnold lingered a while with his fleet among 
the islands of the Sound collecting the results 
of his adventure and then returned to New 
York. The expedition had consumed eight 
days. He had faithfully performed his com- 
mission, had taken a few prisoners and was 
gorged with plunder. But we may well 
conceive that his chief acquisitions were those 
that he carried away in his own bosom and 
which were unreported in his despatches, dire 
regrets and painful memories ; images of burning 
homes and houseless families, and more vivid 
than all, a picture of that carnage of living 
beings, his ancient neighbors and acquaintances, 
which would ghost-like pass before him at 
intervals till his dying day. Not that General 
Arnold personally participated in the slaughter 
of any one of his country-men, in that expedi- 
tion ; on the contrary he expressed great 
solicitude lest blood be shed, but the result of 
his treason will ever be charged to his account. 

In the attack upon the Fort, the British had 

51 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

about two hundred men killed and wounded : 
some of the officers stated the nuinber at two 
hundred and twenty, but the returns forwarded 
by Arnold to Sir Henry Clinton immediately 
after the battle acknowledge only fifty-one 
dead and one hundred and forty-two wounded. 
Of the latter, a number died afterwards and 
were buried in the Sound or upon the shore 
of Plum Island. 

The American prisoners on board the fleet 
reported afterward that thirteen of the wound- 
ed soldiers died after the battle and were 
buried in the sea. 

After comparing the various computations 
made by the survivors of the garrison and 
other inhabitants of New London and Groton, 
the result is as follows. Killed or mortally 
wounded, eighty-five. Severely wounded and 
most of them left on parole, thirty-two ; this 
includes at least three of the former list, viz. 
Captain Adam Shapley, Ebenezer Avery and 
Daniel Stanton. Prisoners forty, of whom 
probably twenty-five were from the fort. 
Number of the garrison not less than one 
hundred and thirty, not more than one 
hundred and fifty. 

These men were inexperienced in warfare, 

52 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

the fortification in which they were cooped up 
was new, imperfect, and only half furnished 
with the means of defence, yet how^ manly, 
skilful and determined was their resistance ! 
The havoc which they made in a well-trained, 
well-appointed battalion of British soldiery 
shows a firmness and bravery that should have 
challenged the admiration and secured the 
courteous forbearance of a gallant foe, yet it 
seems only to have stimulated the invaders to 
an exercise of barbarous revenge. 

Yet this vindictive outbreak need not be 
exaggerated. Terrible as it was, some accounts 
give to the black deed a deeper dye than 
belongs to it. Even an eye witness may err 
in his report through the vagueness of memory, 
or the fervor of indignation. 

Americans have commonly thrown the 
odium of the murder of Ledyard upon 
Captain, or Colonel Beckwith of New Jersey. 
Yet Colonel Beckwith, having no independent 
command in the expedition and acting only as 
a staff ofiicer, would scarcely have ventured 
to assume the responsibility of this crowning 
deed of barbarity. He himself, when in 
America many years afterwards, indignantly 
denied the charge, afiirming that he was 

53 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

occupied in a different quarter and was in no 
way accessory to the death of Ledyard, not 
being even aware of the deed until some time 
after it was committed. He does not however 
admit the turpitude of the act, but alleges 
that Ledyard was regularly summoned to 
surrender, and lost his life from the rash 
determination to defend the fort to the last. 
This is the British version of an indefensible, 
criminal act. 

The summons to surrender, to which 
Beckwith alludes, delivered before the assault 
commenced, was indeed linked with a barbari- 
an threat which only barbarians would have 
executed. The friends of Ledyard assert that 
he made no resistance after the enemy had 
obtained a lodgment upon the fort and that, 
in defending the position to that point, he had 
done nothing that should have deprived him 
of honorable usage as a prisoner ol war. 

Justice seems to require that the death of 
Ledyard and the indiscriminate massacre that 
followed should be laid to the door of the 
commanding officer. The responsibility be- 
longs to him, even if he were not the immediate 
perpetrator of the savage deed and the willing 
spectator of the subsequent butchery. Nor 

54 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

does it lessen the heinousness of the act that 
it was planned and proclaimed beforehand and 
the suffering party forewarned of the penalty 
that would follow the faithful performance of 
duty. 

Brainard, in his commemorative oration 
(Sept. 6, 1825), observes: ''The immediate 
infamy must rest on Bromfield, whose name 
and character have never since met the public 
gaze. It is said that he was afterwards pro- 
moted to the rank of a Brigadier and was 
employed in the East Indies, where he shot 
himself through the head with a pistol." 

What an awful tinge of irony seems 
attached to the commendation of Arnold in 
his despatch to Sir Henry Clinton : "The 
command devolved on Major Bromtield, 
whose behavior on this occasion does him 
great honor." 

Names of the wounded who were paroled 
and left at home. 

Lieutenant Park Avery Daniel Eldridge 
Ensign Ebenezer Avery Andrew Gallup 
Amos Avery Robert Gallup 

John Daboll Stephen Hempstead 

Samuel Edgecombe, Jr. Corp. Judd (of Hebron) 
Charles Eldridge Captain William Latham 

55 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

Christopher Latham WilHam Seymour 

Jonathan Latham Daniel Stanton 

Frederick Maine Ehsha Prior 

John Morgan WiUiam Starr 

Jabish Pendleton Sanford Williams 

Captain Solomon Perkins Joseph Woodmancey 
Obediah Perkins Asabel Woodworth 

Ebenezer Perkins Thomas Woodworth 

Ziba Woodworth 
Daniel Eldridge, though numbered among 
the wounded and paroled men, was nevertheless 
carried to New York as one of the prisoners 
and afterward exchanged. On the third of 
December 1781, 130 prisoners that had been 
exchanged were brought to New London in 
flag vessels, and among them were those that 
had been taken on the sixth of September. 
They had been confined in prison ships and 
were in a deplorable condition from fever and 
neglect. Accommodations in New London 
were obtained with difficulty. Every house 
that had been left unconsumed and the few 
since built were crowded with occupants. By 
taking in these infected persons, the fever was 
widely spread and, though few of the cases 
were of a malignant type, it was a winter of 
desolation and gloom both in New London 

56 





Memory of Lieu 
nezery^very who , .-% m, 
orioufly inDefencelQl i 
Gi'ifAvouId and ^r^ll 
can rreedom ^ "VJ\ 



Ledyard Burial-ground. 



ARNOLD S EXPEDITION 

and Groton. 

One of these enfeebled and diseased prisoners 
was Daniel Eldridge, who died December 
I ith. His friend and neighbor, Gary Leeds, 
having assisted in nursing him, fell a victim 
to the same disease. Mr. Leeds was one of 
the garrison of the fort who, when the enemy 
obtained possession, leaped from the walls, 
cleared the ditch, outran his pursuers and 
escaped the massacre. But he w^as severely 
wounded and had scarcely recovered from his 
injuries, when he caught the infection at the 
bedside of his friend and died December 28th. 

Another victim of the disease brought home 
by the released prisoners was Thomas Ghester, 
Jr., oldest son of Thomas Ghester and brother 
of Daniel and Eldridge Ghester, who were 
slain in the Fort. He had been taken prisoner 
at Essequibo, March 1781, carried to the 
West Indies and kept several months in 
confinement, but made his escape to a neutral 
port and finally reached home September 25th. 
He took the fever from one of the prisoners 
to whom he was dispersing aid and sympathy, 
and was soon laid by the side of his martyred 
brothers. 



57 



THE BATTLE MONUMENT. 

THE Groton Monument Association, 
incorporated by Act of Legislature in 
I 820, erected this granite shaft on the 
Heights, and holds the property in trust for 
the State of Connecticut. The corner stone 
was laid September 6, i 825, and the dedication 
took place four years later, when a few of the 
survivors of the Massacre were present. 
It bears this inscription : 

This Monument 

Was erected under the patronage of the State of 

Connecticut, A. D. 1830, 

And in the 55th year of the Independence of the U. S. A. 

In Memory of the Brave Patriots 

Who fell in the massacre at Fort Griswold near this spot 

on the 6th of September, A. D. 1781, 

When the British under the command of 

THE traitor Benedict Arnold, 

burnt the towns of New London & Groton, and spread 

desolation and woe throughout this region. 

58 



THE BATTLE MONUMENT 



The shaft was originally one hundred and 
twenty-seven feet high, and in 1881 its height 
was increased to one hundred and thirty-live 
feet. 

*List of men who fell at Fort Griswold, 

Sept. 6th, 1 78 1. 

William Ledyard John Brown 

Lieut. Col. Commanding Hubbard Burrows 



Elijah Avery 
Ebenezer Avery 
Solomon Avery 
Jasper Avery 
Elisha Avery 
Daniel Avery 
David Avery 
Christopher Avery 
Thomas Avery 
Simeon Allyn 
Samuel Allyn 
Belton Allyn 
Benadam Allyn 
Nathan Adams 
John P. Babcock 
John Billings 
Andrew Billings 
Samuel Billings 
Ezekiel Bailey 
Andrew Baker 
William Bolton 



Jonathan Butler 
Frederic Chester 
Eldridge Chester 
Daniel Chester 
Richard Chapman 
Philip Covil 
Ellis Coit 
James Comstock 
William Comstock 
John Clark 
Daniel Davis 
Samuel Hill 
Henry Halsey 
John Holt 
Rufus Hurlbut 
Moses Jones 
Eliday Jones 
Benoni Kenson 
Barney Kenny 
Thomas Lamb 
Youngs Ledyard 



*A corrected list may be found in appendix. 

59 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 



Daniel Lester 
John Lester 
Jonas Lester 
Wait Lester 
Joseph Lewis 
Nathan Moore 
Joseph Moxley 
Simeon Morgan 
Edward Mills 
Thomas Miner 
Luke Perkins 
Luke Perkins, Jr. 
Elnathan Perkins 
Elisha Perkins 
Asa Perkins 
Simeon Perkins 
David Palmer 
Peter Richards 
Captain Adam Shapley 
of Fort Trumbull 



David Seabury 
John Stedman 
Nathan Sholes 
Thomas Starr 
Nicholas Starr 
Amos Stanton 
Enoch Stanton 
Daniel Stanton 
Henry Williams 
Thomas Williams 
John Williams 
Henry Woodbridge 
Christopher Woodbridge 
Stephen Whittelsey 
John Whittelsey 
Sylvester Walworth 
Patrick Ward 
Joseph Wedger 
(Colored men) 



Sambo Latham 
Jordan Freeman 

Of the garrison volunteers, not including 
Ledyard and Shapley, the commanders of the 
two forts, ten had attained the rank of Cap- 
tain ; viz. Simeon and Samuel Allyn, Elijah 
and Elisha Avery, Hubbard Burrow^s, Youngs 
Ledyard, Nathan Moore, Peter Richards, 
Amos Stanton and John Williams. 



60 






I to the XTK^xxxovTyA 

1Cc.p.^ lohn Wilii^' 

I who (ell ^^^ovipni.^^^ 

I tiQhtin^ ro]M^^ -j 
I o o M//T'/^// 4 

|7\in Fort Grisvv^^/ '| 
|pfej(^7ear of hi^lt^l 



Ye patriot friends, that weep mv fate, 
As if untimely slain; 
Faith binds my soul, to Jesus's breast. 
And turns my loss to gain. 

Ledyard Burial-grounc 



THE LEDYARD MONUMENT 

COLONEL LEDYARD was interred in 
a small Burial Ground upon Groton 
Heights, where three of his children 
had been buried. The stone, erected to his 
memory by his widow, having been defaced 
by storm or mutilated by visitors, a monument 
was erected in August 1854 through an 
appropriation made by the Legislature of 
Connecticut. 

For inscriptions, see the two following 
pages. 



61 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 



(On West side) 



LEDYARD. 

Sons of Connecticut. 

Behoid this Monument and learn to Emulate 

the virtue valor and Patriotism 

of your ancestors. 



(On South side) 

ERECTED IN 1854 
Bv the State of Connecticut in remembrance of the 
painful events that took place in this neighborhood 

during the war of the Revolution. 

It commemorates the Burning of New London ; 

the Storming of Groton Fort, the Massacre of 

the Garrison, and the Slaughter of Ledyard, the 

brave Commander of these posts, who was slain 

by the Conquerors with his own Sword 



He fell in the service of his country 
Fearless of death and prepared to die. 



62 



THE LEDYARD MONUMENT 

(On North side) 

COPY OF THE INSCRIPTION ON THE HEAD STO 

NE ORIGINALLY ERECTED OVER THE GRAVE 

OF COL. LEDYARD 

Sacred to the Memory Of WILLIAM LEDYARD Esq. 
Col. Commandant of the Garisoned posts of New London 
Sc Groton: Who after a gallant defence, was with a part of 
the brave Garrison, inhumanly Massacred: by british troops 

in Fort Griswold. Sept: 6. 1781, i^tatis. suae 43. 

By a judicious, Si Faithful discharge of the various duties 

of his Station, He rendered most essential Service to his 

Country; and stood confessed, the unshaken Patriot; 

and intrepid Hero. He lived, the Pattern of Magna 

nimity ; Courtesy; and Humanity. He fell the Victim 

of ungenerous Rage and Cruelty. 



63 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

In Memory of 

M.' Andrew Billings 

Son of Capt Stephen & 

M";.' Bridget Billings 

who was Inhumanly 

Massacred by British troops 

in Fort Griswold 

Sepr 6^h ad: 1781 

In the 22^ year 

of his Age. 

Ledyard Burial-ground. 

In Memory of 

Cap^ Youngs Ledyard 

who was mortally wounded 

making heroic exertions 

for the defence of 

Fort Griswold 

Sep' 6^h of which he died 

the 7^h ^£); 1 78 1 
in the 3 i ^^ year of his Age. 

Ledyard Burial-ground. 

64 




Sacrfd to tlie Memory o( 
HOMASCHESTEH 

ea^Criptain of dirtin^uifhed Mern 

died in ths. tKe place of his Najiviiy 

\Ue S-ofDcc'' 1781 /E^8 

ViJyy'ffl Konffant.ja1lnp.1l to his Trii/t. \ 

/M/^U-ayfa(}ioni. uniformly J" P k^^^W^ 

\}merf. above aife^inse or (Irt. /*\ 

(^ expre/s d the Idn^ua^e of hii Hear 



oopy. uinilf troi 
Wy; />>"lh proper 
^ i'fMqfter <,nj a, 

At. 



cl m V>fl 



'Hu 



y-i^-','. ^*^5*vy>".'>^ -*^ 



Ledyard Burial-ground. 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

Here Lies y, Body of 

M' Daniel Chester son 

of M' Thomas Chester 

Who was Killed in fort 

Griswould after he Sur- 

renderd sept' 6'^ 1781 

in y, 27^^ year of 

his Age, 

I for my Countrys 
Cause have fought, My 
blood was spilt upon y. 
Earth, By Relentless In- 
human foes, I fall a sa- 
crifice to Death. 

Ledyard Burial-ground. 

Here Lies y, Body of 
M; Eldredge Chester 
son of M' Thomas 
Chester, who was wound- 
ed in fort Griswould sep! 
6^'' 1 78 1 and died of his 

Wounds dec' 3 i ^.' in 
y 24*?" year of his Age. 

Relentless was my foe 
Deaths weapons through 
me went. Fell by y. 
Fatal blow, Lingerd 
till life was spent. 

Ledyard Burial-ground. 

6s 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

In Memory of M"^ 

Wait Lester son of 

M' Thomas Lester 

& Mary his wife 

he fell in the 

battle at Fort 
Griswould sep' 

6^^ 1 78 1 in y, 

2 2"! year of 
his Age. 



Starr Burial-ground. 



In Memory of M; 
Thomas Minard he 
fell a victom Death, 
the 6'.^ of sep' 1781 : 

in y, 30^!" year ol 
his Age. 

My blood was spilt upon 
the Earth, resign'd my 
breath By relentless 
unhuman foes; I fell 
a Sacrilise to Death. 

Starr Burial-ground. 

66 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

In Memory of M;; 

Asia Perkins who was 

slain in fort Griswould 

Sept!" 6'!^ 1 78 I in y, 33^* 

year of his Age 

Ye British tyrants 
that have pow,r 
And butchers wet 
with Humane Gore, 
Judgment must come 
and you will be 
Rewarded for your 
Cruelty. 

Starr Burial-ground. 



In Memory of M"; 

Simeon Perkins 

who was slain in 

fort Griswould 

sep! 6'!' 178 1 in 

y, 2 2*! year of 

his Age. 

Starr Burial-ground. 

67 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

In Memory of M-; 

Elisha Perkins who 

fell a Sacrifice for his 

Countrys Cause in that 

horrible massacree at fort 

Griswould sep^ 6^!" 

178 I : in y^ 38'.^ year 

of his Age. 

Kingdoms and States 

Degenerates 

Keep grace for ever nigh 

my blood hath stain'd the 

british fame 

for their inhumanity. 

Starr Burial-ground. 



In Memory of M: 
Christopher Wood- 
bridge he was 
kild in fort Gris- 
would sep^ 6'!" 
1 78 1 in y, 27^^ 
year of his Age. 

Starr Burial-ground. 

68 




} In Menferytif ^^^ 



I 



i who WG$ floin//m/n>pt 
^'jCn/ojouIdSep'Jo- \yoi (ly | 
i in his ^0 jyear.,. 



^^ 



\^ 




thouInueteXate'^e 
Luhatis/t 
'Jthouftruc. 



Starr Burial-ground. 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

In Memory of M^ 
Luke Perkins who 
was slain att fort <" 

Griswould sep! 6^?" 
1 78 1 in y, 29^!" year 
of his Age. 

Ye sons of Liberty 
be not Dismay? 
That I have fell a 
Sacrifice to Death, 
But oh to think how 
will thir debt be paid 
Who murther'l me 
when they are calP, 
from earth. 

Starr Burial-ground. 



In memory of 

THOMAS STARR, Jr. 

who was slain in 

Fort Griswold, 

Sep. 6, 1 78 1, 

in the 19th. year 

of his age. 

Starr Burial-ground. 

69 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

In Memory of 

M[ Henery Woodbridge 

who was slain in Fort 

Griswould Sep[ 6^ 1781 

in the 33^ Year 

of his Age. 

Will not a day of reckoning come 
does not my blood for vengence cry 
how will those wretches bear their doo"" 
who hast me slain most Murderously. 

Starr Burial-ground. 



In Memory of Cap| Samuel Allyn 
he Departed this Life sep^ 6^!" 1781 
in fort Griswould by traitor Ar- 
nolds murdering corps, in the 
47^1" year of his Age. 

By Gods decree my Bounds 
ware fixt, the time y, place, 
tho much Confus'd ; 
The Cause was Good, y, 
means ware vile, 
Snatch*^ me from Charms 
of Golden life 

Wood Burial-ground. 
70 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

In Memory of 

M' RUFUS HURLBUT 

Who fell in the bloody 

com mi fed by Bencdic Arnolds Troops 

Massacre^ at Fort Griswould 
Sept^' the 6^ 1781 in the 40'!' 
Year of his Age. 
Reader consider how I fell, 
For Liberty I bleed; 
O ! then repent ye Sons of hell, 
For th' innocent blood you shed. 

Galesferry Burial-ground. 



In Memory of M^ 
Benadam Allyn who died 
sep! 6'!" 1 78 I In fort griswould 
by trator arnolds murdring 
Corps in y 20^!" year of his 
Age 
To future ages this shall 
Tell, This brave youth 
in fort griswould fell. 
For amaricas Liberty, 
He Fought & Blead 
Alas he die*! 

Allyn Burial-ground. 
71 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

In Memory of Cap^ Si- 
meon Allyn who Died 
sep! 6^^ 1 78 1 in fort 
Griswould with his lieu! 
Ens" & I 3 soldiers by trai- 
tor arnolds murdring Corps 
in y 37^!" year of his Age 

By Gods decree my bounds 
Ware fixt the time y 
place though much Confus"* 
the cause was good y 
means was vile Snatch"* 
me from Charms of 
Golden Life. 

Allyn Burial-ground. 

In Memory of M;^ 
Andrew Baker who Died 
sep! 6\^ 1 78 I in fourt Gris- 
would by Traitor Arnold 
murdering corps, in the 
26^1" year of his Age. 

This Gallant youth while 
Cannon roar, Decree'd by 
God to live no more; 
a sudden dart by mur- 
dering hands, Death Ceased 
his life at Gods Command. 

Morgan's Pond Burial-ground. 
72 




^M^'Elnathan Perkins 




Starr Burial-ground. 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

In Memory of 

Lieu! Joseph Lewis, who 

died sept' 6^!" 1781 In fourt 

Griswould by traitor Arnold 

murdering corps in y, 41'! 

year of his Age. 

This Gallant man, when God 
Doth call, doth give his life 
in freedoms cause; a sudden 
dart doth wing away, that 
precious life that dwells 
in Clay. 

Morgan's Pond Burial-ground. 

In Memory of Ens" 

John Lester who died 

sep* 6'!' 1781 : in fort 

Griswould by traitor 

arnolds murdring Corps 

in y, 42f year 

of his Age. 

By Gods decree my bound 
ware iixt, the time y, 
place though much 
Confus"! the cause was 
good y, means was vile, 
Snatch*^ me from Charms 
of Golden life. 

Morgan's Pond Burial-ground. 

73 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

In Memory of M' Simeon 

Morgan who died sep' 6'.'' 

1 78 I : in fort Griswould by trai 

tor arnolds murdring Corps 

in y, 27^.^ year of his Age. 

This Blooming youth in 

sweets of Ufe his God 

doth Call while Cannon 

roar a winged dart 

doth sease his breath 

& takes him from 

this Golden shore. 

Morgan's Pond Burial-ground, 



In memory of 

Cap^ Hubbard Burrows, 

who was killed in 

Fort Griswold 

Sep. 6^^ 1 78 I, 

in the 42*! year 

of his age. 

Crary Burial-ground, 

74 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

In 

Memory of 

John P. Babcock 

who, together with a small 

party of Americans in 

Fort Griswold withstood 

an Assault made by a 

Detachment of 

British Troops 

untill being overcome 

by superior numbers 

he was massacred 

Sept. 6, 1 78 I, 

JE. 30 years. 

Crary Burial-ground. 



In Memory of 
Lieu! Henry Williams, 

Son of 

Cap! Henry Williams, 

& Mary his wife, 

who fell at Fort 

Griswold Sep. 6^'' 1781, 

in the 3 21 year 

of his age. 

Williams Burial-ground. 

75 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

Memento 

Lieu! Enoch Sergf Daniel 

Stanton slain in y Stanton slain in y 

36^'' year of 26^!" year of 

his Age. his Age. 

Here inter'd are the bodies of two 
brothers, Sons of Cap! Phin! Stanton 
& Elisabeth his wife, who fell 
with many of their friends, Sep' 
6'!" 1 78 I. whilst manfully fight- 
ing for the Liberty of their Coun- 
try, in defence of Fort Griswold. 
The Assailants were troops com- 
manded by that most despicable 
parricide, Benedict Arnold. 

Henry Palmer Burial-ground. 



In Memory of M; 
Thomas Williams 
who was kill'd in 

fort Griswould 

Sep! 6^'^ AD. 1 78 1 

in y, 60'!" year 

of his age. 

Whitehall Burial-ground. 

76 




In Memory of Be I ton /,. ,. 
Yf^p-jAliyn Ton to Dea" Jofeph //X>? 
MjMjWnWbfo fell in fort M 
i\ ::;^ Grifv\AOUId by traitor Ar-^S^ I 
nolds Corps fep^. f ^7^i V^i 
in y /^ year of his Am^^^ 
Cruel rage ofBritrTM 
n this Body- broughtf^-^v 




duft a^ain But we (zjL 

IS dult Will nCeM'^^J- 
AtriumDh with r^ f^ i^/^^/ 



rr\triumph with 




'--^ 



;,'slj^( 



^>~^ 



Allyn Burial-ground, 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

In Memory of Ml 

Moses Jones who was 

Slain in fo't Griswould 

Sep^ 6^^^ 1 78 1 in y, 25^^ 

year of his Age 
Will not a day of Rec- 
koning come ; Does not 
my blood lor vengeance 
Cry ; How will those 
Wretches bear their 
Doom ; Who hath me 
Slain most Murderously 

Turner Burial-ground. 

In Memory of M"; Joseph 
Moxley who Died sep 

6f 1 78 1 in fort Gris- 
would by traitor arnolds 

murdring Corps in y, 

46*!" year of his Age. 
By Gods decree my 
bounds were fixt, the 
time the place the means 
though vile, & whilst I bleed 
the views of bliss, Faith 
tryumph over monster Death 

Turner Burial-ground. 

77 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

In 

Memory of 
DAVID PALMER 

who was slain in 

Fort Griswold 

Sept. 6, 1781 . 

in the 38 year 

of his age. 

Palmer Burial-ground. 



In Memory of Ensign 
Daniel Avery who 
nobly nobly sa- 
crificed his Life 
in Defence of fort 
Griswould & the 
Liberties of America 
sep! 6^!" 1 78 1 : in y, 
4 1 1' year of his Age 

Old Poquonnoc Burial-ground. 

78 



gravestone inscriptions 

In Memory of 

DAVID AVERY Es(^! 

who having performed the endearing 

Offices of Friendship and Religion, 

in social Connections ; 

And usefully and honorably 

served the Public in various Characters ; 

Nobly risk'd his life in defence of 

Fort Griswold & American Freedom ; 

and fell a victim to british Inhumanity 

Sepr 6^: 1 78 I : in the 54'J: 

Year of his Age. 

Old Poquonnoc Burial-ground. 



In Memory of 

M-: Elisha Avery 

Who was slain 

in Fort Griswould 

Sep^ 6 1 78 1 in 

y, 26^^ year of 

his Age 

It is appointed 
for man once 
to die. 

Old Poquonnoc Burial-ground. 

79 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

In Memory of 
Mr Jasper Avery 
who was slain in fort 
Griswould in defence 
of his Country's 
freedom Sep' 6*!" 
1 78 1 in y, 38'.^ year 
of his Age. 
This life uncer- 
tain, but Death 
comes to all 

Old Poquonnoc Burial-ground. 



In Memory of M"^ 

Solomon Avery 

who was slain in 

fort Griswould by 

the british troops 

Sep! 6'.^ 1 78 1 in 

y, 33<^ year of 

his Age. 

Old Poquonnoc Burial-ground. 
80 




ap1 ELIJA[#AyERY 




■4^^<^ 



First Poquonnock Burial-ground. 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

Sacred to the 

Memory of M^ 

Thomas Avery, 

son to Park Avery 

Jn' who made 

his Exit in Fort 

Griswold Sept. 

6'^ 1 78 1, Aged 

17 years. 

Life how short: 

Eternity how long. 

Old Poquonnoc Burial-ground. 



In Memory of Ml 

Patric Ward who 

fell a victim to brit 

ish Cruelty in fort 

Griswould sepf 6'f' 

1 78 1 : in y, 25'.^ 

year of his Age. 

Old Poquonnoc Burial-ground. 
81 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GRO TON 

In Memory of 

Lieu^ Richard Chapman 

who was killed at 

Fort Griswold Sep 6. 

1 78 1, in the 45. year 

of his age. 

How suddenly death's arrows fly ! 

They strike us & they pass not by, 

But hurl us to the grave. 

First New London Burial-ground. 



In memory of 

Mr John Holt ]\in: 

who was slain in Fort 

Griswold Sep. 6^'' 1781, 

in the 35^!' year of his age. 

And 

In memory of 

M:: Martha Holt, 

Relict of 
M: John Holt Jun": 
who died March 31'.' 1807, 
in the 63'! year of her age. 
The sweet remembrance of the just, 
Shall flourish tho' they sleep in dust. 

First New London Burial-ground. 
82 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

In Memory of 

Mr. 

John Clark, 

who departed 

this Life Sep' 6. 

1 78 I, aged 34 

Years. 

First New London Burial-ground. 



In Memory of Cap^ 

Adam Shapley of Fort 

Trumbull who bravely 

gave his Life for his 
Country a fatal Wound 
at Fort Griswold Sep^ 6*'' 
1 78 I caused his Death 
Feb' 14 1782 Aged 
43 Years 
Shapley thy deed reverse 
the Common doom 
and make thy name 
immortal in a tomb 

First New London Burial-ground. 

83 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

In Memory of 

Cap^ Peter Richards, 

who was willing to Hazard 

every danger, in defence 
of American Independance, 

was a Volunteer in 

Fort Griswould, at Groton 

the 6^ of Sep!: 1781 

and there Slain in the 

2S'^ Year of his Age. 

Cedar Grove Cemetery. 



Erected by 

Robert Comstock Esq^ 

To the inemory of his 

Grandfather 

JAMES COMSTOCK, 

who bravely fell 

in Fort Griswold 

in the service of his country 

Sept. 6, 1783, 

Aged ys. 

A signal exainple of valor 

Patriotism and heroic virtue. 

Comstock Burial-ground. 

84 




4 yM fence of ' his Country 

^.y^/^'fep' 6%.yJrzS^. by 



a vvouna-^/ReceiVed \ 
m his Dreaft when 



'P^\ Coura^ioufly {aceine,-'^^€)j| 









C';<A. 



/ 






First New London Burial-ground. 



GRAVESTONE INSCRIPTIONS 

Daniel Son of 

Cap! Charles & 

M'_^ Temparence 

Williams 

who fell in the Ad:ion 

in Fort Griswould 
on Groton hill on the 

6:;: of sep!: 1781 

in the 1 5^^ year 
of his Age 

Saybrook Point Burial-ground. 



In printing the above inscriptions no efFort has been made to 
reproduce the long s, italicized words or lines. 

85 



APPENDIX 

Part of a letter from Ebenezer Ledyard to the 
Hon. William Williams, member of the Connecticut 
Council of Safety, or War Committee. 

Dated at Groton, Feb. 12, 1778. 

MY brother has received orders to enlist another 
matross company — his first orders from his 
Excellency were to take charge of the forts 
on both sides and to overlook the works. He has 
been obliged to order all the work last Summer and 
take as much care of his Company as other Captains. 

I don't believe they can enlist any but boys 
without a bounty and boys are not fit for cannon — 
they can't do their duty — it requires able-bodied 
men. 

My brother is on duty every day. He is willing 
to serve to order the work on both sides and command 
both forts, but to take charge of a company and 
direct the works both as last year, he can't. 
Last year he served as engineer which made a great 
saving to the public, but thinks he ought to be 
allowed something extra. 

While others have been trading and making 
money he has served the public in many departments. 
But others that do very little are as much noticed as 
him and when any field officer of the militia comes 
in here, they are over him — yet they are obliged to 
go to him to set their men to work and he directs 

87 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

the whole. So he does the work and they have the 
credit, — but if he is not put over both forts without 
taking a Company I believe he wont serve. We 
have neither of us touched trade since these times 
began but constantly served the public, and have had 
other people by us improving and making fortunes, 
and we have lived on money due us many years. 

This, if your honor please, you may show Judge 
Law, if at Assembly, or Esquire Payne or any 
honest man. 

Copy of a letter from Colonel William Ledyard 

to Governor Trumbull, written only three days 

before he was slain. 

New London, 3d Sept. 1781. 

MAY it please your Excellency. 
Having received information lately 
that a number of horses were buying up and 
several already collected for the purpose of being 
sent over to Long Island, upon which information 
we kept two boats cruizing near the place they were 
to embark from for three nights, but the wind 
proving unfavorable and the nights very light 
prevented their embarking and for fear the persons 
concerned in sending over the horses would take 
another route with them, 1 thought it advisable 
to seize the horses at the different places where they 
were collected, and have already seized and secured 
4 of the horses, — also a person by the name of 
Collins Gorton who appears to be concerned in the 
affair. A large number of sheep are also purchased 
and are collecting to send to the enemy. 

Would wish your F>xcellency would please to 
order unto this garrison a proper number of men for 
the security of this post to enable us more effectually 
to prevent supplies being sent to the enemy. It 

88 



APPENDIX 

appears that there are a large number of persons 
concerned in this trade who pay little or no regard 
to authority or the laws of the State, and I conceive 
they are dangerous persons respecting this post. 

I am this day preparing a flag to go to New 
York with a number of British naval prisoners in 
order to exchange those now there belonging to this 
State. The last flag brought out all those persons 
your Excellency wrote about from Danbury. 1 
have not yet received any money from the Collector 
of Groton as directed and fear from what he said 
that he wont be able to supply me with any worthy 
of note for some time to come. I now owe for the 
price of 5 Flags and shall not have it in my power 
to continue the exchange of American prisoners 
unless I am properly furnished with monies. Mr. 
Mumford will be able to inform your Excellency 
with the difficulties I meet with on this head. 

I am with the utmost respect your Excellency's 

most obedient Servant, 

Wm. Ledyard. 



89 



AUTHORITIES 

Barber's Historical Collections 
Connecticut Colonial Records 
Dwight's Travels 
Letters of Thomas Hertell 

Ebenezer Ledyard 
William Ledyard 
Moore's Diary of the American Revolution 
Narratives of Rufus Avery 

Stephen Hempstead 
John Mason 
Jonathan Rathbun 
New London Gazette, Sept. 1781 
Orations by J. G. Brainerd 
W. F. Brainerd 
C. Griswold 
Trumbull's History of Connecticut 
Underhill's History of the Pequot War 
Vincent's Pequot War 
Winthrop's New England 



90 



BURIAL GROUNDS 

The Ledyard Burial-ground 

at Groton Heights, about one quarter mile south- 
east of Groton Monument. 
The Starr Burial-ground 

in town of Groton, on north road, about one mile 

and a half from Ferry. 
The Wood Burial-ground 

in town of Groton. A small inclosure on north 

road about one half mile from Starr ground on 

right of road driving north. 
The Gales Ferry Burial-ground 

in town of Ledyard. A small ground about one 

quarter of a mile south of the Methodist Church 

on left of old Groton road. 
The Allyn Burial-ground 

in town of Ledyard. An inclosure but a few feet 

from Allyn's Point Landing. 
The Morgan's Pond Burial-ground 

in town of Ledyard. An uninclosed ground at 

Morgan's Pond about one quarter mile back from 

Sandy Hollow road. 
The Crary Burial-ground 

in town of Groton. An uninclosed ground on 

91 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

right of road between Burnett's Corners and Old 

Mystic and about a mile from Old Mystic. 
The Williams Burial-ground 

in town of Ledyard. An inclosed ground on the 

Seth Williams farm two and a quarter miles north 

of Old Mystic on Shewville Road. 
The Henry Palmer Burial-ground 

in town of Stonington. An inclosed ground 

about one quarter mile north of Mr. Richard A. 

Wheeler's, back from the road on the right. 
The Whitehall Burial-ground 

in town of Stonington. An inclosed ground 

back from the road between Old Mystic and 

Mystic River on right hand. 
The Turner or Moxley Burial-ground 

in town of Groton. An inclosed ground about 

one mile from Center Groton on right of road 

from Center Groton to Gales Ferry. 
The Palmer Burial-ground 

in town of Groton. An inclosed ground about a 

quarter mile back from road, on Brook Street 

near head of Palmer's Cove. 
The Old Poquonnoc or Avery and Morgan 

Burial-ground, in town of Groton at Poquonnoc 

Bridge. 
The First New London or "Ye Ancient Buriall 

Place", corners Huntington, Bulkeley Place and 

Pleasant Streets. 
The Cedar Grove Cemetery 

one mile west of New London. 

92 



APPENDIX 

The Comstock Burial-ground 

in town of Montville near Comstock's wharf and 

southwest of Montville station Central Vermont 

R. R. 
The Saybrook Burial-ground 

in town of Old Saybrook on Saybrook Point. 

NAMES OF THE HEROES WHO FELL AT FORT 
GRISWOULD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1781 

as collected and arranged by CHARLES ALLYN 
AND PRINTED IN "THE BATTLE OF GROTON HEIGHTS" 

Lieutenant-Colonel William Ledyard, Commanding 

Nathaniel Adams ' John Billings 

Belton Allyn Samuel Billings 

Benadam Allyn William Bolton 

Captain Samuel Allyn John Brown 

Captain Simeon Allyn Captain Hubbard Burrows 

Sergeant Christopher Avery Jonathan Butler 

Ensign Daniel Avery Lieutenant Richard Chapman 

David Avery Sergeant Eldredge Chester 

Lieutenant Ebenezer Avery Daniel Chester 

Captain Elijah Avery Frederic Chester 

Captain Elisha Avery Jedediah Chester 

Sergeant Jasper Avery John Clark 

Sergeant Solomon Avery Elias Coit* 

Thomas Avery Lieutenant James Comstock 

John P. Babcock William Comstock 

Sergeant Ezekiel Bailey Philip Covill 

Andrew Baker Daniel Davis 

Corporal Andrew Billings Daniel Eldredge 

*On the monument slab as Ellis. 

93 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 

Jordan Freeman (colored) Elisha Perkins 
Captain Elias Henry Halsey* Elnathan Perkins 



Samuel Hill 

John Holt, Jr. 

Sergeant Rufus Hurlburt 

Eliday Jones 

Moses Jones 

Benoni Kenson 

Barney Kinneyf 

Thomas Lamb 

Lambo Latham (colored)*^ 

Captain Youngs Ledyard 

Captain Cary Leeds 

Daniel D. Lester| 

Ensign John Lester 

Jonas Lester 

Wait Lester 

Lieutenant Joseph Lewis 

Corporal Edward Mills 

Thomas Miner§ 

Captain Nathan Moore 

Corporal Simeon Morgan 

Joseph Moxley 

David Palmer 

Asa Perkins 



Luke Perkins 

Corporal Luke Perkins, Jr. 
Simeon Perkins 
Captain Peter Richards 
David Seabury 
Captain Adam Shapley 
Corporal Nathan Sholes 
Captain Amos Stanton 
Sergeant Daniel Stanton 
Lieutenant Enoch Stanton 
Sergeant Nicholas Starr 
Thomas Starr, Jr. 
Sergeant John Stedman 
Sylvester Walworth 
Lieutenant Patric Ward 
Joseph Wedger 
John Whittlesey 
Stephen Whittlesey 
Daniel Williams 
Lieutenant Henry Williams 
Captain John Williams 
Thomas Williams 
Christopher Woodbridge 



Henry Woodbridge 

NAMES OF THE WOUNDED PAROLED AND LEFT AT HOME 

Amos Avery Ensign Ebenezer Avery 

*On the monument Henry Halsey. 
fOn the monument Kenny. 
°On the monument Sambo. 
JOn the monument Daniel C. 

§On the tombstone Thomas Minaid, which seems to be an error, as his descent 
is from Clement Miner. 



94 



APPENDIX 



Lieutenant Parke Avery 
John DaboII, Jr. 
Samuel Edgecomb, Jr. 
Ensign Charles Eldridge 
Christopher Eldridge 
Daniel Eldridge 
Andrew Gallup 
Robert Gallup 



Jabish Pendleton 
Ebenezer Perkins 
Lieutenant Obadiah Perkins 
Captain Solomon Perkins 
Elisha Prior 
William Seymour 
Daniel Stanton, Jr. 
Edward Stanton 



Sergeant Stephen Hempstead John Starr 



Corporal (Jehial) Judd 
Christopher Latham, Jr. 
Captain Edward Latham 
Jonathan Latham, Jr. 
Captain William Latham 
Frederick Moore 
John Morgan 



Lieutenant William Starr 
Samuel Stillman 
Tom Wansuc 
Sanford Williams 
Ensign Jos. Woodmansee 
Asel Woodworth 
Thomas Woodworth 



Zibe Woodworth 



PRISONERS CARRIED OFF 



Samuel Abraham 
Cabel Avery 
Peter Avery 
Sergeant Rufus Avery 
Joshua Baker 
Reuben Bushnell 
Charles Chester 
Captain William Coit 
Nathan Darrow 
Elias Dart 
Levi Dart 
Gilbert Edgcomb 
Daniel Eldridge 
Ebenezer Fish 



Jeremiah Harding 
Walter Harris 

Kilburn 

William Latham 

Ebenezer Ledyard (hostage) 

Jonathan Miner 

Isaac Morgan 

Isaac Rowley 

Holsey Sanford 

Corporal Josiah Smith 

Lieutenant Jabez Stow 

Solomon Tift 

Horatio Wales 

Thomas Welles 



95 



THE STONE RECORDS OF GROTON 



OTHERS NOT TAKEN PRISONERS 



Benjamin Bill 
Joshua Bill 
Benajah Holdridge 
Samuel W. Jaques 
William Latham, Jr. 
Gary Leeds 
Amos Lester 



Thomas Mallison 
Henry Mason 
Japheth Mason 
Elisha Morgan 
James Morgan 
Joseph Moxley, Jr, 
John Prentis 



WOUNDED ON NEW LONDON SIDE 



Samuel Booth Hempstead Elijah Richards 
Jonathan Whaley 



96 



V W 1 1 /^ *-• 



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^UN. 29 1903 



iUL 6 1903 



llJIlHHlllHIillllininHlflHHHmilMHimimmmiimnji 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS |' 




